Railroad Cancer Lawyer: How to File a FELA Railroad Lawsuit
Federal Employees' Liability Act (FELA) allows railroad workers who have been exposed to toxic chemicals to submit a claim. A lawyer for railroad cancer can evaluate your case and assist you in pursuing compensation.
Benzene has been linked with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in several studies. Other carcinogens found in trains include creosote and diesel exhaust.
Benzene
In a variety of industries, it is used to create adhesives, plastics, dyes and. It can also be found in gasoline, cigarette smoke and has been linked with a variety of health problems including acute myeloid lymphoma (AML), Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CL) as well as Multiple Myeloma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. People who work in the oil refining, shoe manufacturing and chemical industries are at a higher risk of exposure to benzene than other people.
In the course of working railroad workers are exposed carcinogens, such as welding fumes, diesel fumes, and crystalline silica. If a rail worker suffers a chronic illness or disease due to work exposure, they may be in a position to file a lawsuit under Federal law.
Napoli Shkolnik partner Patrick Haines has filed two cases in Fort Worth, Texas, against BNSF Railway for injuries railroad employees suffered related to toxic exposures they received while working. The plaintiffs include a male and female who claim to suffer from leukemia, lung cancer and bladder cancer.
In the lawsuits filed against BNSF it is claimed that the Railroad was negligent in failing to safeguard its employees from carcinogens such as benzene. The lawsuits also claim the Federal Employers Liability Act was not respected. This law was enacted in 1908 to guarantee railroad workers have the right to sue their employers for work-related injuries and illness, even if the ailments develop decades or years after the last railroad worker's job.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate is an herbicide or chemical used to protect plants, that is applied to many crops. It is also a component of Roundup which is the most popular herbicide used by both home and commercial gardeners. However certain studies have associated its use with certain kinds of cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said that glyphosate "is not likely to cause cancer in humans." The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, on the other however, has been more critical of this product, and has said it "probably carcinogenic."
A meta-analysis of 4 studies [17,2632] found the connection between glyphosate as well as hairy cell leukemia. The I 2 and P values however were low and the heterogeneity did not reach statistical significance. A trim-and fill analysis was not able to reveal bias in publication. class action lawsuit against norfolk southern railroad -RR for the meta-RR was 1.4 (CI = 1.0 to 1.9).
EFSA has conducted an assessment of the dangers of glyphosate for human health in the European Union where it is declared to be a active substance. ECHA also conducted a risk assessment for the substance. Both EU regulators have synchronised work plans to ensure that both assessments are taken into account when a decision on renewal of glyphosate's approval is made.
The EPA requires herbicide manufacturers to conduct a multitude of studies that concentrate on the toxicological properties of the herbicide, environmental fate, and potential non-targeted adverse effects. These data are also used to conduct formal risk assessments by the EPA. These assessments quantify the risk of harm to humans through analyzing human biomonitoring as well as monitoring of food residues and applying models of human exposure.
Creosote
Creosote, a chemical mix which is used to lengthen the life of railroad ties. It was used in a railroad yard in Houston's Fifth Ward until 1984, and a plume of contamination from the site has spread into a low-income, predominantly black neighborhood that is located near. Creosote is a suspected carcinogen, and the residents of the area have fought for years to get the site cleaned up.
In a recent railroad cancer case an ex-railroad worker brought suit against his employer, claiming that exposure to creosote solvents used to degrease and other dangerous substances caused him to develop cancer. He says that he developed myelodysplastic disease, which later developed into acute myeloid leukemia. The plaintiff claims he was responsible for removing and dropping railroad ties, then installing them "soaking wet." He claims the chemicals soaked into his clothes and skin during his work in the field, and that he had not had the proper safety equipment.
The lawsuit also asserts that he was burned to his feet, hands, and head, and from poor eyesight and weight gain as a result of the medication he's on to treat his disease. He also suffered from impotence and memory problems. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with leukemia, an attorney can assist you in determining whether the toxic chemicals in your workplace might have contributed to the illness.
Asbestos
Asbestos was once an essential element of railroad operations, despite the fact that it is now banned. Railroad workers who handled or were exposed to the toxic material faced an elevated risk of developing cancers such as mesothelioma as well as other pulmonary diseases. Asbestos breaks down into microscopically thin fibers that can traverse the body and settle in the lung. This can lead to scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis and mesothelioma. It is a fatal lung disease that affects the lining of the lungs.
Railroad workers were often exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as benzene and creosote. Despite the dangers of asbestos, some railroad companies ignored and denied the dangers of asbestos for decades. This may have been because asbestos was profitable and they believed that employees would not be able to prove that their employers were negligent.
People who have contracted illnesses or illnesses due to exposure to railroad materials while on the job should consider making an FELA complaint. Compensation is a way to help injured workers family members and employers pay for medical costs and other financial loss.
A FELA lawyer will review your case to determine the full amount of compensation you could be entitled to receive. Contact an experienced railroad injury lawyer today to set up a free consultation.